Frieren in Elden Ring

When she spoke, Milliardeil had a gloomy expression, her tone chilling, as if telling a fairytale at a child's bedside that was destined to become a childhood nightmare.

However, Flamme wasn't buying it; she was long past the age of being easily frightened.

"Speak clearly. Don't be vague."

"In short, Frieren once obtained a powerful magic in a dream. If she truly falls asleep, she could easily pull everyone into that dream, and it's a nightmare... I experienced it briefly. That's why she hasn't truly slept for a very long time. Ordinary methods of waking her are meaningless."

"Then what about the legend that Master will wake up if the village is in danger?"

"It's simple. She pre-set a trigger spell to remind herself. In any case, the initiative lies with her. It's very difficult for an outsider to wake her."

"Sigh…"

"Now, now, child, don't sigh like that. Don't worry. Tell your big sister what happened."

Since there was no way to wake Frieren for the time being, there was no harm in wasting a little time. So, Flamme sat down on a nearby barstool and recounted the entire story.

The news about the Ruins of the King's Tomb was no secret. It had become increasingly famous, and even Milliardeil in her village had heard rumors about it.

She listened with fascination, taking a small sip of her drink from time to time.

You have a story, and I have wine.

"...All in all, considering the journey, power, prestige, and personality, having Master handle the matter of the Ruins of the King's Tomb is the most suitable option. Everyone needs her to take charge of the situation."

Flamme was actually proud; after all, her master was so renowned.

However, the task of contacting her had fallen on her shoulders. If she didn't succeed, many people would be worried.

"It is indeed a bit troublesome, but don't worry. Don't take that king too seriously. The worst that can happen is we wait a few years for him to die," the drunken elf said with a shrug. "There, it's just the blink of an eye. A moment's work."

The corner of the red-haired girl's mouth twitched. She was speechless.

A human's fleeting life was indeed insignificant to them. Time would soften most conflicts.

"If that's the case, I can only wait in the village for a while."

After stepping into the village's barrier, Flamme was slightly taken aback. The path under her feet was actually a paved stone road. It was rare for elves to start building facilities. Moreover, her mana sense detected many new houses.

"Good morning."

Greetings from some unfamiliar faces startled her, and she hurriedly waved back in response.

It had only been a few months since her last visit. How had it changed so much? Even with the help of magic, this wasn't something a few hundred elves could accomplish.

Unless they had gotten more manpower in a short time...

Milliardeil pointed into the distance and said, "Elf villages from other places came here because of Frieren. Most of them fled from the north and joined us. The village's population has now just passed a thousand. It's a start."

"Once the supporting infrastructure is built, we'll upgrade to a small town. You have no idea how happy the village chief is. Of course, we're also very happy to have found more of our kin."

Her gaze turned towards some elven children playing, and even a small baby in its mother's arms.

This was incredibly rare.

It had been many years since anyone had seen a little elf, let alone a newborn.

Flamme's unique appearance caught the children's attention. Seeing this, she casually conjured a firework, drawing a round of applause. The street was filled with the sound of cheerful laughter.

Despite this, some of the elves bore injuries. Having experienced it herself, she recognized the particular signs of the fires of war.

"Excuse me, did something happen in the north?"

"Perhaps to make up for the gap in their offensive and reorganize their lines? The Demon Prophet dispatched Sage-level forces to the main battlefield. Many people died, and several mage corps were wiped out... As usual, they cleansed any elf settlements along the way, so we had to flee."

"Only a few dozen from our village managed to escape. I'm afraid the number of elves is dwindling..."

"By my calculations, if our population falls below one thousand, it's over. We will eventually head towards irreversible extinction."

"From the moment we fall below that threshold, how long until the last one dies?"

"An eternity."

The elves chattered among themselves, their words filled with fear and anxiety. Those who had fled were especially worried, fearing the battlefront would extend further.

From Flamme's perspective, it had been several years since the last large-scale demon campaign. It was indeed about time for another one.

She crossed her arms, a determined expression on her face.

Unlike the helpless child she once was, she could now do her part.

"Young one, you're still small. Don't think so much about war." Milliardeil patted Flamme's shoulder and entrusted, "I promised Frieren I would look after you. I can't let you go to the battlefield."

"Don't worry, I'll find a more suitable time. Besides, the Association has another way of fighting: getting everyone to accept and develop magic."

"Mmm."

"But how much information do you have on the Demon Sages? I'd like to learn about them in advance."

"Recently, a mage-killer has risen to prominence, known as 'Corrupt.' There's also the 'Hundred-faced Sage,' who excels at infiltration... They are all far stronger than ordinary greater demons. Once they enter the battlefield, they are unstoppable. Apart from the Hero, very few can stand against them."

The survivors' faces were filled with fear as they recalled the events.

After all, their opponents were the best of the greater demons. Those who held the title of Sage were all peerless powerhouses, each capable of defeating an entire army. At present, they were not something humans could contend with.

The Hero did have a record of killing them, but humans still lacked a system to cultivate champions to match the Sage level.

What a pity.

From Flamme's perspective, the mage education system built by the Association was the most suitable, covering everything from beginner to advanced levels. However, the organization needed fertile ground to grow, and yet it was constantly encountering resistance.

"Thank you for the information."

She didn't ask them to reopen old wounds. It was all in the past. They should enjoy the peace.

Milliardeil cautioned, "Every Demon Sage possesses profound magic that is difficult for this era to comprehend. Child, you are still far from their level."

"And the Seven Moons Sages above them wield indecipherable curses. Wherever they go, the land becomes barren and life is extinguished..."

"I have some ideas on how to counter curses."

"Master!"

Walking towards the two was Frieren, dressed in a loose white robe. She had a lazy expression and was yawning, looking like she hadn't woken up properly, a hint of fatigue in her features. Now knowing the situation, Flamme understood that she had been awake all along.

However, after the elf girl stretched her limbs, the weariness vanished, and her pupils projected a sharp gaze.

"A lot must have happened while I was immersed in magic, right?" Frieren pointed to her small house behind her. "Come in. Let's have breakfast and talk."

"Yay! I've missed Master's cooking."

"Same old, I have wine."

As they were talking, the surrounding elves suddenly broke into cheers. Some of the unfamiliar faces expressed their respect to the village's protector, their gratitude overflowing.

Who?

A large number of newcomers had appeared in what was an absolutely tight-knit community. After a moment's thought, Frieren had already guessed most of it.

"New members of the village, welcome." Frieren extended her hands and smiled, "If you have any difficulties, please don't hesitate to ask. I will certainly help."

The growth of the elf settlement was undoubtedly good news. Unlike before, when there were only a few hundred people and no newborn elves, which was no different from a slow extinction, having more people was better for long-term development.

May the deceased rest in peace; the living kin will be even more united.

Seeing the lingering fear on their faces, she knew that something must have happened in the north again.

"We had heard of Lady Frieren before. We knew you protected an elf village, so we came here on a whim."

"Thank you."

"If it weren't for the Battle of Northwind Fortress, the last large settlement of our kind would have disappeared. I want to stay in this pure land forever."

"There are too few elves like Lady Frieren, who is both powerful and cares for her people."

Their tearful complaints and gratitude were sincere. Although they were an emotionally reserved race, when faced with matters of life and death, their hearts were inevitably shaken. In the end, it was the result of the trauma of war.

Their fragmented information made Frieren realize the situation had changed. Things were getting lively again.

The last setback was not enough to cripple them. They were already brewing the next offensive. And she suddenly realized: could letting the elf refugees escape be a prelude to wiping them all out in one fell swoop?

You wish.

No matter what you're planning, you are doomed to fail.

In the past, the remote elf settlements were beyond Frieren's reach, and she had struggled with whether to intervene deeply in the affairs of her kind. But now it was different. She had to protect the kin right under her nose. The village carried the hope for the future.

"Please rest assured, I will carefully fortify our defenses. The demons' order to exterminate the elves will only become a foolish delusion."

"You don't have to worry too much, the frontline is still very far from here."

"I am relieved."

"No wonder you can resist the demons. It turns out the village has been training in magic all along. We will become stronger too. Let's fight together!"

Frieren chatted with the guests who had come from afar to get a clear picture of the situation before they parted ways. The sudden gratitude rally finally came to an end. For a race like the elves, even mentioning it verbally was a moving gesture.

Having survived the calamity, they would not forget Frieren's protection and felt a strong sense of belonging to this place.

There were still powerful elves active on the world stage, but she was the only one they could turn to. The others were either homeless themselves or uninterested in the affairs of their kind.

Such a model compatriot was wonderful.

Finally, amid a chorus of cheers, the silver-haired girl led her two friends into the small house.

She wordlessly went straight to the kitchen and began to tidy up, while Milliardeil naturally sat down at the table and poured herself some wine.

"Master, you still have the energy after entertaining so many people?"

"I've probably gotten used to it." Frieren thought of the various grand spectacles in the Lands Between. "In terms of social interaction, I'm becoming less and less of an elf."

"Not at all."

Flamme rested her chin in her hands and said with a grin, "From an outsider's perspective, you elves started changing long ago. You never used to greet people before. It's you who are getting closer to human society. Everyone is much more enthusiastic now, it feels like a real neighborhood."

"That's not necessarily a good thing. We live so long entirely because we're thick-skinned and carefree."

Milliardeil said this and then took a large gulp of wine.

"It's alright. In times of war, everyone lives through drastic changes. Who knows what's good or bad? As long as the present moment is worth protecting, that's enough."

After experiencing so many events, Frieren had long since learned to face things with a calm heart. For now, she would let nature take its course.

Since she had set the tone, the three of them did not continue the topic. In any case, the demon frontline was still far from here. They wouldn't be foolish enough to launch a direct attack anytime soon. Besides, the humans had also changed:

The Association.

It was driving magical technology forward by leaps and bounds, producing a large number of grassroots and backbone combatants. With the accumulation of time, the emergence of a large number of great mages was a visible trend.

Great mages were sufficient to contend with greater demons, which could alleviate a lot of pressure on the battlefield.

Therefore, the topic returned to the development of the Association:

"...That's the current situation, Master. The exploration of the Ruins of the King's Tomb has to be postponed."

"I never expected it to go smoothly from the start," Frieren replied nonchalantly. "After all, excavating a dungeon is not only dangerous in itself, but wealth also moves people's hearts. In any case, I need to coordinate with the Association."

"Master, you also promised Lord Vain you would regularly give classes to the nobles. That work has all fallen on me."

"I'll make up the classes for them later. As for your hard work, of course, there will be compensation."

What?

Flamme, who had just wolfed down her breakfast, had her eyes light up.

Unfortunately, Frieren just smiled mysteriously, not answering right away. Instead, after the meal, she led the two of them to the underground laboratory.

The silver-haired girl then began to write and draw on a blackboard, covering it with various formulas and runes. It was, surprisingly, the Soul-Splitting Protection Technique from her soul magic. Even in its current primitive state, it showed considerable potential.

She tried to record her inspiration and professionalize it. Fortunately, both Flamme and Milliardeil understood it.

"Interesting. Is this the new technique you comprehended in your dream?" The drunken elf's stupor had mostly dissipated. "The world has a new way to deal with curses!"

"This is a major achievement, following the Goddess's blessings and curse-reversal magic."

Milliardeil was ecstatic.

"It's not that easy." Flamme shook her head. "It requires a solid foundation in soul magic. My sister and I can learn it because we understand the basics, but it will be difficult for others... But it's still another method, better than being completely in the dark."

"I will perfect and simplify it later, so that even ordinary mages have a chance to hold on for a little longer."

Then, Frieren's tone became firm: "But you must learn it. Especially you, Milliardeil. You are the strongest person permanently stationed in the village."

"Yes, ma'am!"

The drunken elf even gave a military salute with a solemn face. She might seem flighty on a normal day, but there were few in the village stronger than her who had received Frieren's training from an early stage. She was indeed the perfect choice for a guardian.

Moreover, the village had recently produced quite a few mages and warriors. Working together, they were comparable to a small army.

This way, she could focus on other matters.

"Flamme, how is the magic research progressing?"

"Everyone has improved the efficiency and range of healing magic. Although it can't compare to yours, Master, it's easier to popularize. I hear the casualty rate on the front lines has improved a lot."

"Humans are never short of geniuses. They just need to be given an idea and a direction."

Good, as long as it's going smoothly.

Unexpectedly, her apprentice had another surprise prepared: "Master, I discovered that the Scarlet Rot mana you left behind has a life attribute. So, I tried researching in the direction of life enhancement. Combined with soul magic, it can be doubly amplified. Perhaps true longevity is really possible!"

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